Energie Cottbus climbed out of the relegation zone with a convincing victory over 10-man Hannover.
Dimitar Rangelov gave Cottbus the lead in the 39th minute but it was midway through the second half that the hosts took full control.
Leon Andreasen saw his Hannover debut cut short by a 67th-minute red card and the hosts took full advantage as Rangelov grabbed a second before Stanislav Angelov made it 3-0 17 minutes from time.
Frank Fahrenhorst's 82nd-minute strike was only a consolation for the visitors.
Cottbus started the game sporting the worst home record in the league with only five points from eight games, but that still made them a good match for a Hannover team that has collected only two points away from home all season.
After a cagey opening, Ivica Iliev fired just wide for Cottbus in the 14th minute.
Hannover made their first meaningful attack in the 26th minute, but Mario Eggimann headed onto the roof of the net from Sergio Pinto's cross.
Cottbus grabbed the lead six minutes before the break when Iliev found room on the left to cross for Rangelov to head home.
Iliev might have scored his own soon after the break but he fired just wide from a good position.
Hannover's afternoon got much worse when Andreasen collected his second yellow card, and Cottbus quickly capitalized.
Two minutes later, Emil Jula headed Daniel Ziebig's cross against the post, but the ball fell for Rangelov to apply an easy finish.
Moments later, a poor Hannover clearance fell for Angelov to blast the ball home from the edge of the area.
Fahrenhorst poked home a late consolation but the game ended in a defeat that leaves Hannover four points above the drop zone.
Cottbus are in 15th place, above Karlsruhe on goal difference alone.
